United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe

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Ambassador of the United States to Zimbabwe
Seal of the United States Department of State.svg
Seal of the United States Department of State
Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, Jr. official photo.jpg
Incumbent
Harry K. Thomas, Jr.
since December 8, 2015
Nominator Barack Obama
Inaugural holder Robert V. Keeley
as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Formation May 23, 1980
Website U.S. Embassy - Harare

The first United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe was appointed on May 23, 1980, after the Republic of Zimbabwe came into being to replace the previous white-minority government of Rhodesia, and its successor Zimbabwe-Rhodesia (1979–1980).

The Republic of Zimbabwe came into being on April 18, 1980. The United States immediately recognized the new nation and moved to establish diplomatic relations. An embassy in Harare was established on April 18, 1980—independence day for Zimbabwe. Jeffrey Davidow was appointed as chargé d'affaires ad interim pending the appointment of an ambassador. The first ambassador, Robert V. Keeley, was appointed one month later on May 23, 1980.

The current U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe is Harry K. Thomas, Jr., who was sworn in on December 8, 2015.[1]

Ambassadors

U.S. diplomatic terms

Career FSO
After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for those who have served in the Foreign Service for a specified amount of time.

Political appointee
A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president (often as a reward to political friends).

Appointed
The date that the ambassador took the oath of office; also known as “commissioning”. It follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a Congressional-recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador requires subsequent confirmation by the Senate.

Presented credentials
The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador’s arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador’s letter, but this occurs only rarely.

Terminated mission
Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador’s commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy.

Chargé d'affaires
The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country. See chargé d'affaires.

Ad interim
Latin phrase meaning "for the time being", "in the meantime". See ad interim.
  • Robert V. Keeley – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: May 23, 1980
    • Presented credentials: June 19, 1980
    • Terminated mission: Left post February 20, 1984
  • David Charles Miller, Jr. – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: March 30, 1984
    • Presented credentials: May 31, 1984
    • Terminated mission: Left post April 17, 1986
  • James Wilson Rawlings – Political appointee
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: October 16, 1986
    • Presented credentials: November 27, 1986
    • Terminated mission: Left post March 30, 1989
  • Note: Edward F. Fugit served as chargé d'affaires ad interim, March 1989-April 1990.
  • J. Steven Rhodes – Political appointee
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: March 8, 1990
    • Presented credentials: April 5, 1990
    • Terminated mission: Left post August 6, 1990
  • Edward G. Lanpher – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: October 25, 1991
    • Presented credentials: November 20, 1991
    • Terminated mission: Left post January 12, 1995
  • Johnnie Carson – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: March 4, 1995
    • Presented credentials: April 20, 1995
    • Terminated mission: Left post 25 July 1997
  • Tom McDonald – Political appointee
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: November 4, 1997
    • Presented credentials: December 11, 1997
    • Terminated mission: Left post December 15, 2000
  • Joseph Gerard Sullivan – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: August 7, 2001
    • Presented credentials: October 18, 2001
    • Terminated mission: ~2004
  • Christopher W. Dell – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: August 11, 2004
    • Presented credentials: ~2004
    • Terminated mission: July 2007
  • James D. McGee – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: October, 2007
    • Presented credentials: November 22, 2007
    • Terminated mission: 2009
  • Charles A. Ray – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: September 14, 2009
    • Presented credentials: December 9, 2009
    • Terminated mission: Summer 2012
  • David B. Wharton – Career FSO
    • Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
    • Appointed: September 2012
    • Presented credentials: November 15, 2012
    • Terminated mission: 2015
  • Harry K. Thomas, Jr. – Career FSO
    • Appointed: December 8, 2015
    • Terminated mission: Incumbent

See also

References

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External links

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